[8] They received acclaim on the Dr. Demento Radio Show, and the latter song was featured on several albums, including Dr. Demento's 20th anniversary collection, The Very Best of Dr. Demento, and Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Novelty CDs of All Time. Lanny stated that though Freddie Blassie never knew how to save his money well, he always had enough since he was never a drinker and saved a lot of money in that regard. This is in reference . At Freddie Blassies wake, a family member came up to Keith Elliot Greenberg, saying that Freddies son had read the book and was ready to make peace with his father. In one memorable instance, Blassie, playing up the heel character, would berate Brunos followers backstage with promos, calling them derogatory names such as "grease ball" and "spaghetti bender." On a mid-July 2001 episode of Raw, the Invasion storyline was in full swing, and Blassie was brought in to motivate the WWE in the face of their ongoing war with the WCW/ECW Alliance. His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. During this time, he went to New York City to work for promoter Jess McMahon. Blassie, Murray wrote, has dedicated his life to wrapping up as much hate as one man can safely carry in a lifetime. That year, Blassie was forced to retire from in-ring competition, as a California by-law forbade wrestling licenses for anyone upon reaching 55 years old. [4] He is regarded as one of the greatest wrestling heels, or villains, of all time. Hed adopt a bleach-blond look, start biting his opponents in the ring, and would often be seen filing down his teeth to better sink his teeth in his opponent. (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). [6] He performed for that promotion until his full retirement from professional wrestling in 1986. My Breakfast with Blassie was conceived of by Linda Lautrec and Johnny Legend as a satire on My Dinner with Andre. . KyleEnjoysWrestling wrote on 30.07.2019: [ 9.0] "People mostly know Blassie for his manager roles, but he was also a pro in the ring. He also bleached his hair at this time, as many of the other stars of the era did, such as Gorgeous George, Johnny Valentine, and "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. JP Zarka created Pro Wrestling Stories in May 2015. Around 1980, he adopted a new moniker: "Ayatollah Blassie. It was a wonderful look back at "old-school" wrestling as told by one of the masters, both as a wrestler and as a talker. "Classy" Freddie Blassie WWE Hall of Fame Induction Speech [1994] After a 39-year in-ring career in the sport, Blassie retired as a wrestler as a 4x WWA World Heavyweight Champion, a 17x NWA Georgia Southern Heavyweight Champion, NWA Junior Heavyweight Champion, as well as dozens more regional titles in multiple NWA territories. Linda's dual role (as director and actress) was scripted as an irritating fan who requests Andy's autograph after he washes his hands. It was in the latter that he decided to embrace his villainous side, bleaching his hair blonde like Gorgeous George. In the summer of 1986, Blassie started to slowly phase himself out of the WWF and into retirement. [8] His final wrestling appearance was May 12, 2003 in Philadelphia on Raw, three weeks before his death. . [9] While recuperating in 1966, he worked as a car salesman and married a second time to a woman whose name Blassie later claimed not to remember. During these runs, hed take part in a couple of title feuds for the WWE Championship, challenging Bruno Sammartino in the 1960s and Pedro Morales in the 1970s, not to mention coming after Bobo Brazils US Heavyweight Title. Anyone can read what you share. He won the WWA World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship from French star Edouard Carpentier at the L.A. Sports Arena in 1961. Freddie Blassie - Online World of Wrestling Sadly, the gimmick was a bomb, and Blassie jumped around territories, including working in New York City for Jess McMahon (grandfather of Vince McMahon Jr.). Between matches, he gave loud and boastful interviews, making He hated his father for it. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. Federation (WWWF, later the World Wresting Federation (WWF) and now He continued to outrage crowds by distracting referees so that his men could cheat and by getting in his own cheap shots when the refs weren't looking. Take Linda McMahon, for instance. The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie Matches Freddie Blassie Wrestlers Database - CAGEMATCH [8], Blassie appeared in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show that featured a new dance craze called The Twizzle. While there, he won the NWA Georgia Southern Heavyweight Championship, the holder of which was generally first in line to challenge the NWA World Heavyweight Champion whenever he passed through the territory. Blassie would show Greenberg dozens of notebooks with "beautiful cursive handwriting." [6] The final match of their series took place in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and set new California records for both attendance and gate. Most recently, he co-authored the 2016 edition of the WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment. Between matches, he gave loud and boastful interviews, making him a favorite of talk shows and reportedly influencing a fellow egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. Blassie got involved when he threw his cane into the ring, with Sheik and Volkoff using it to their advantage to gain the victory. In this match Hogan was once again victorious. [17] In 2000, Blassie made an appearance at the Royal Rumble as a judge in the Miss Rumble 2000 Swimsuit contest, which was won by Mae Young. Blassie claims that he made Regis Philbin into the celebrity he is today. Freddie Blassies income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. This benefactor was later revealed to be Slick. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. He started a second career as a manager in the WWWF. Since his retirement, he has occasionally worked as a "goodwill ambassador" (!) [8], In 1975, Blassie recorded voiceovers for the songs "Blassie, King of Men" and "Pencil Neck Geek", which were performed by Johnny Legend, featuring Billy Zoom on guitar, Jay Phillips on guitar, Lon Osgood on bass and Steve Clark on drums. He even managed Muhammad Ali going into his legendary match with Antonio Inoki. Born: 1921. Blassie's interference at Wrestlemania 2 cost Volkoff his match with Kirchner, when the cane was grabbed by Kirchner instead of Volkoff. Freddie had been estranged from his children for the majority of their lives. [2] In 1963, Bearcat Wright defeated him to become champion, and it was quite a statement during the fight for civil rights that an African-American had won such a title. In the late 1960s, he moved to the East Coast and the World-Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, later the World Wresting Federation (WWF) and now World Wrestling Entertainment WWE)). The professional wrestler Freddie Blassie, who became a cult figure to fans by playing the villain inside the ring during the 1950's and 1960's, died Monday. The phrase pencil neck geek is such a common bit of North American English idiom that likely few are aware that it actually comes from pro wrestling, let alone from the mouth of Freddie Blassie. You can watch him on Autopsy: The Last Hours of on Reelz in the United States and Channel 5 in Great Britain. book. Comedian Andy Kaufman & professional wrestler Classy Freddie Blassie eat breakfast & discuss life. The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks (Wwe S) Paperback - February 1, 2004 by Keith Elliot Greenberg (Author) 115 ratings See all formats and editions Kindle $13.99 Read with Our Free App Hardcover $18.99 13 Used from $4.06 2 New from $38.98 1 Collectible from $15.00 Paperback As a wrestling manager, wore shirts and trousers of the exact same color, sometimes with a matching jacket. [11], On June 12, 1961, Blassie defeated the "Flying Frenchman" douard Carpentier in a best-of-three-falls match for his first WWA World Heavyweight Championship. Let's learn more about this classic heel! Freddie Blassie, Pro Wrestler Popular as Villain, Dies at 85, https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/08/sports/freddie-blassie-pro-wrestler-popular-as-villain-dies-at-85.html. "Classy" Freddie Blassie with Keith Elliot Greenberg, NWA Georgia Southern Heavyweight Championship, WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship, NWA North American Heavyweight Championship, NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship, North American Wrestling Alliance/Worldwide Wrestling Associates/ NWA Hollywood Wrestling, WWA International Television Tag Team Championship, NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, "Classy Freddie Blassie was pro wrestling's 'Fashion Plate', "Before The Client List: "Classy" Freddie Blassie", "Blassie toast of Cauliflower Alley Club", "WWF WrestleMania XV Results - 3/28/99 (Stone Cold vs. He kept track of all of his matches during his career, including personal anecdotes. Born Fred Blassman in St. Louis, Blassie played baseball and football in high school. Because of his close relationship with Vince McMahon, Sr. and his family, Blassie remained on the WWF payroll until the day he died. Accounts about his early athletic career do not quite agree, but he first tried to make his mark as a boxer, despite warnings that his arms were too short. Blassie, whose late hubby [inset] was known for his gravel-voiced put-down pencil-neck geek, claims to have suffered excruciating pain in the January 2011 tumble, which broke her right wrist, and permanent scarring from a cut eyebrow. By doing this, he saved Freddie Blassies life. 304K views 6 years ago The Dudley Boyz put Rico through a table after getting the call from WWE Hall of Famer "Classy" Freddie Blassie at ringside. The Dudleyz get the tables with "Classy" Freddie Blassie's help: Raw According to Walton, Blassies biggest achievement came Aug. 27, 1971, when he met and defeated Canadian wrestler Golden Greek John Tolos at the Coliseum before 25,000 wrestling fans. After the war, Blassie returned to the Midwest and continued wrestling professionally. [6] His knees were also in terrible condition, which also contributed to his retirement. During his time on the West Coast, he was a frequent guest and/or interruption on a local show hosted by Regis Philben, and Blassies appearances thanks to his massive appeal as a wrestling draw helped push Philben into a national celebrity. [7] When Philbin had a late-night weekend talk show in San Diego, Blassie would routinely show up to yell at the audience, throw furniture, and threaten Philbin; the confrontations were wholly kayfabe and both of them were friends when the cameras weren't rolling. We have estimated In order to impress a girl, he entered a carnival show match in a shoot fight and won. After handing over ME duties to Alex Richards, he remains a frequent contributor to the site. "Classy" Freddie Blassie appeared in a live-action segment of the cartoon "Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling." Blassie also was seen with the comedian Andy Kaufman in ''My Breakfast With Blassie,'' a 1983 spoof of ''My Dinner With Andre.''. Freddie Blassie, 85; Became a Cult Figure in Professional Wrestling by My Breakfast with Blassie: Directed by Linda Lautrec, Johnny Legend, Mark Shepard. Freddie Blassie Height 5'10" Weight 220 lbs Hometown St. Louis Signature Move Stomach Claw Career Highlights 1994 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee Freddie Blassie: Bio "Classy" Freddie Blassie is one of the most memorable Superstars to ever set foot inside the squared circle. His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. [6] On July 7, Blassie successfully defended his title against the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz. Some wrestlers choose to play a villain as a way of promoting their career, while others are forced to by their promoters. His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September 1968 - 2 June 2003) ( his death), ? Despite being a 7-year pro before his duty in World War II, Blassie was still a journeyman. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. Andy Kaufman on Letterman w/ "Classy" Freddie Blassie 02/23/1983 You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. [3], One of Blassie's most famous proteges was The Iron Sheik. Freddie Blassie, 85, died of heart failure on June 2, 2003. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he [8] The fans consistently booed him because he was considered a "Yankee". Greenbergs memoir on Freddie Blassie was released just three weeks before he died in 2003. Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned wrestler with a voice from the depths of the earth who made himself a hero to mat fans in the 1950s and 60s by playing the villain, has died. Frederick Kenneth Blassie (Classy Freddy Blassie, The Vampire, Sailor Fred Blassie, The Hollywood Fashion Plate, The Fashion Plate of Professional Wrestling) was born on 8 February, 1918 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, is an Actor. Freddie Blassie Wrestlers Database CAGEMATCH - The Internet The two spoke the same dialect of German, their parents had mutual friends, and . For the first installment, we look at one of the most iconic villains in pro wrestling history as both a wrestler and a manager in Classy Freddie Blassie. Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. (and of course, Bubba Ray and D-Von take care of Bischoff and his cronies). Given that Hogan was the top babyface in the 1980s, this iteration of The Hulkster was actually a heel and would depart in 1981 after a dispute with Vince McMahon Sr. over Hogans taking a role in Rocky III. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? [9] The sight of the Japanese legend covered in his own blood gave several viewers heart attacks, and some reportedly died. Still claiming to be the West Coast Champion, entered into a feud with Bruno Sammartino to unify the titles. Backstage, Jilly Rizzo club owner, Frank Sinatra's bodyguard, and . The Real Housewives of Atlanta The Bachelor Sister Wives 90 Day Fiance Wife Swap The Amazing Race Australia Married at First Sight The Real Housewives of Dallas My 600-lb Life Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. My Breakfast with Blassie (1983) - IMDb In the segment he is interviewed by "Mean" Gene Okerlund when the two are interrupted by a little old lady in a housekeeper outfit that Blassie claims to be his own mother. The suit, filed in federal court in White Plains, accuses the supermarket chain of negligence and recklessness and seeks more than $1 million in damages from corporate parent A&P and mat supplier G&K Services. He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. For example, in the 1970s, he took on Cowboy Bill Watts, whod become a promoter and booker for Mid-South Wrestling and WCW. My Breakfast with Blassie (1983) - IMDb The Life and Times of Classy Freddie Blassie Quiz For Freddie Blassie, there was no question why he took on a villian's persona - he loved it. He has written several wrestling biographies including Freddie Blassies The Legends of Wrestling, Ric Flairs To Be The Man, "Superstar" Billy Grahams Tangled Ropes,and the unreleased biography of The Iron Sheik which, despite being chockful of stories that would be sure to make your jaw drop, will never see the light of day. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. The defendants had a duty to provide reasonably safe conditions for its customers, the suit charges. @megantheevalium. wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" Deiveson Figueiredo Tattoo Wallpaper. Ironically, during his WWWF stint, he was managed by another former wrestler who had recently become a manager, in the form of Captain Lou Albano. . However, later that year Blassie suffered from kidney stones and had surgery to remove them. [3], In 1953, he worked in the Atlanta, territory for Paul Jones (the wrestler of the 1930s, not the wrestler/manager of the 1980s). "Classy" Freddie Blassie WWE Hall of Fame Induction Speech [1994]June 9, 1994 The "Shakespeare of WWE" made an appearance on our podcast The Genius Cast in 2018, and he certainly had a few good stories up his sleeves! What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. He began wrestling professionally in 1935 and it was soon after that he came up with his famous pencil neck geek insult. Professional Wrestling Online Museum - Spotlight on Freddie Blassie Renowned as "The Hollywood Fashion Plate", [3] he was a one-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, and was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994. Blassies father was a heavy alcoholic and was abusive towards his beloved mother. Notable Title Wins Include: NWA Southern Heavyweight title (14); WWA (Los Angeles) World Heavyweight title (4); WWA World Tag Team title (2 times w/Mr. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. From there, he moved on to become a regular writer, contributor, and reporter for WWE. Freddie Blassie Obituary (2003) - San Diego, CA - San Diego Union-Tribune "No. In 1950, he had his first challenge for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, facing championLou Theszin Kentucky. This helps us provide free content for you to enjoy! Around 1980, he adopted a new moniker: "Ayatollah Blassie." [6] In later years, Blassie also appeared on The Mike Douglas Show when Philbin was a guest host. In 1964, the legendary "Classy" Freddie Blassie was still an in-ring competitor when he took on local hero Bruno Sammartino in front of a hostile New Jersey crowd, where he cheated for a cheap countout victory over the champ. Fred McDaniel "Ayatollah" Blassie The Vampire The Hollywood Fashion Plate Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Weight 220 lbs (100 kg) Born February 8, 1918 Birth Place St. Louis, Missouri Died June 2, 2003 (aged 85) Death Place Hartsdale, New York Trainer Billy Longson Everett Marshall Warren Bockwinkle Billy Hanson Debut 1935 Retired 1986 The film My Breakfast With Blassie, which came out in 1983, was a spoof of My Dinner With Andre. The camera followed Blassie and Kaufman as they ate and discussed life at a local restaurant that looked like a Dennys. 10 Wrestling Book Must Reads and 5 You Dont Want To Waste Your Time On, Classy" Freddie Blassie The Legends of Wrestling, The Night Bruno Sammartino Saved Freddie Blassies Life, The Time WWE Hall of Famer DR. JERRY GRAHAM Kidnapped His Mothers Dead Body, Freddie Blassie, Lou Albano, and "The Fossil Jostle" Atrocity in 85, Roddy Piper: From The Streets to the Big Time, Bruno Sammartino and Buddy Rogers The 1963 WWWF Title Screwjob, Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. According to Greenberg, Gorgeous George, towards the end of his career, wanted to form a tag team with Blassie. Freddie Blassie's net worth "Bruno always had a huge entourage hanging around him," Greenberg wrote in "Classy" Freddie Blassie The Legends of Wrestling. Blassie. Also learn how He earned most of Freddie Blassie networth? Freddie Blassie was one of the most hated heels of his time. Death [3] Blassie also publicly represented Ali for media events and interviews for a period in the mid-1970s. Bruno had gotten so famous that he couldnt always pick the boneheads from the rest. He finally defeated Rikidozan and won back his title at a WWA event in Los Angeles but it had served his purpose. The closest I ever saw him to loosing the mask was against Cowboy Bob Ellis, I believe in the mid 60's. I can still remember old Dick Lane calling the action. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. While writingThe Legends of Wrestling, Greenberg got to know Freddie Blassie quite well and mentioned in his appearance on The Genius Cast that Blassie really opened up to him. He did an advice segment on the Tuesday Night Titans TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. Freddie Blassie, Pro Wrestler Popular as Villain, Dies at 85 [6] Blassie described this performer as "having a neck like a stack of dimes and a real pencil-neck geek". His career began in earnest after He won the World Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship from the Frenchman douard Carpentier at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 1961. The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! One that stands out was his rivalry with Bruno Sammartino in the early 1960s. [24], In the early 1990s, the wrestler starred in a documentary directed by Jeff Krulik, titled Mr. Blassie Goes To Washington. Over the course of his in-ring career, Classy Freddie Blassie would wrestle a number of legends, many of whom have either become legendary wrestlers or became famous in the following decades for non-competitive roles. Blassie would continue to make his titles make history in 1963, he lost to Bearcat Wright, making Wright the first African-American to hold a World title in the United States. Blassie retired from wrestling in 1986, turning over his stable of heels to another manager called Slick. However, sadly, Freddie passed away before he could ever speak to his son again. On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. Hed continue being a heel, managing a number of bad guys like George The Animal Steele, Hercules, and Blackjack Mulligan. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United "Classy" Freddie Blassie is a legendary wrestling personality, both as a wrestler and a manager. Vampire". He grabs his balls!" Looking to talk wrestling, pro football, or any number of sports? ", to a monstrous applause. He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. Between matches, he gave loud and boastful interviews, making him a favorite of talk shows and reportedly influencing a fellow egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. Real Name: Fred Blassie. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. After regaining the WWA Championship from Rikidzan on July 25, 1962, Blassie lost the title two days later to the "Masked Destroyer" Dick Beyer. He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. [20] Images from his WrestleMania XV promo were also included in the opening of the 2001 Survivor Series. Wrestler's widow goes to the mat - New York Post He's also written for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, The Windsor Star, and other publications. [9] During this stint with the company, Blassie was managed by his future nemesis, "Captain" Lou Albano.[3]. Towards the end of Freddie Blassies life, he began to realize that it all may be coming to an end soon. This film article about a 1980s comedy is a stub. While there, he feuded with Soulman Rocky Johnson, The Sheik, and "The Golden Greek" John Tolos. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 85 years old group. [20] Because of this, Blassie is one of, if not the only man to have worked with all four generations of the McMahon family. . American professional wrestler and manager, Worldwide Wrestling Associates (19601968), World Wide Wrestling Federation (1964; 1971). By this time, Blassie has acquired a cult following, leading to appearances in several feature films. Freddie Blassie - Wikipedia Outside of being an award-winning television producer, the New York Times best-selling author began writing about professional wrestling for several newspapers and magazines in the 90s. [21] His book, Listen You Pencil Neck Geeks, was released on May 13, 2003. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. In addition to his pro wrestling notoriety, Classy Freddie Blassie also has some amusing notability in wider pop culture. Freddie Blassie managed many heels to success, including the team of The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff, who would win the World Tag Team Titles from US Express thanks to Blassies delivering a strategic shot with his cane. 10 Wrestlers Managed By Classy Freddie Blassie Fans Should Know About His last name is slightly easier to pronounce than it looks. , money, salary, income, and assets. [2][14] Blassie also managed Muhammad Ali in his boxer vs. wrestler match in 1976 against Antonio Inoki. You pencil neck geek! For those who were brought up on pro wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s, one of the most colorful managers of the day was WWF stalwart, Classy Freddie Blassie. [9], In 1968, Blassie returned to Japan and was reunited with Miyako. Freddie Blassie - The Truth (and Somewhere In-Between) Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Vampire". Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. Still a motormouth, he gave interviews in which he bragged about himself and his protgs and denounced anybody he didn't like as a "pencil necked geek". Blassie died of heart failure Monday ", Bruno kayfabed him. However, Blassie said he would toss his drink in the sand if he didnt drink it, so Lanny took the offer. In 1973, knee problems largely forced Blassie to stop wrestling personally, though he occasionally donned the tights to tag-team with one of his heels, as he did in Madison Square Garden in June 1974, teaming with the hulking Nikolai Volkoff to face then-champ Bruno Sammartino and Chief Jay Strongbow in a tag team match (Blassie was forced to submit for the final fall by a Bruno bearhug, and the fans almost tore the Garden's roof off).

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